VW shows off 74 mpg Golf BlueMotion Concept
Click above for high-res shots of the Golf BlueMotion Concept
Fans of fuel savings get a new concept car in Europe to drool over today as Volkswagen pulls the wraps off its latest BlueMotion machine. This time, the badge which identifies the most miserly of VWs is affixed to the sixth-generation of the German automaker's most popular car in Europe, the Golf. When run through the standard European testing procedures, the Golf BlueMotion Concept manages to eke 74 miles from a single gallon of fuel and emits just 99g/km of CO2. It should be noted that it wouldn't score that well in the States, but it would definitely be a certified hybrid hunter. Equipped with VW's 1.6-liter TDI engine with 105-horsepower and 184 lbs.-ft. of torque at a 2,000 rpm, the car also benefits from low resistance tires, minor aero tweaks and new gearing in the five speed transmission to help its low consumption cause. Expect to see the concept badge-less version sometime in the middle of '09 in the U.K.
Gallery: VW Golf BlueMotion Concept
[Source: Volkswagen]
PRESS RELEASE:
99 G/KM, 74 MPG: GOLF BLUEMOTION CONCEPT SETS NEW BENCHMARKS
Volkswagen has today unveiled the remarkable Golf BlueMotion concept vehicle, a car capable of achieving a combined 74.3 mpg while emitting just 99 g/km of CO2. This matches the economy of the Polo BlueMotion, itself among the most efficient vehicles currently on sale.
The BlueMotion label was first attributed to the Polo in 2006 and represents the most efficient model in each of Volkswagen's passenger car ranges. Since the Polo made its debut, BlueMotion versions of the Golf Mk V, Golf Estate, Golf Plus, Jetta, Touran, Passat, Passat Estate and Sharan have been launched.
The new Golf BlueMotion concept is powered by a highly-efficient and refined 1.6-litre TDI common rail diesel engine developing 105 PS and 184 lbs ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. Despite the focus on economy the Golf BlueMotion concept can reach 62 mph from rest in a respectable 11.3 seconds before going on to a top speed of 117 mph.
As with all BlueMotion models the Golf BlueMotion adopts a series of changes to drivetrain and aerodynamics in order to maximise the vehicle's efficiency. A set of low rolling resistance tyres are joined by optimised aerodynamics and revised ratios in the five speed gearbox. The resulting combination of changes works to reduce loading on the engine to drive up economy and reduce emissions.
In common with every diesel model in the forthcoming new Golf range the BlueMotion concept is fitted with a diesel particulate filter.
Even in standard non-BlueMotion form, the new Golf sets new economy standards. The entry-level diesel Golf will be powered by a 2.0-litre TDI 110 PS common rail engine capable of achieving 62 mpg on the combined cycle while emitting 119 g/km of CO2. This matches the economy of the current Golf BlueMotion model.
The new Golf will go on sale in the UK in January next year; the BlueMotion model will follow around mid 2009.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mark Kiernan 5:14PM (9/08/2008)
Ah! The EU introduced new rules to have cars meet a limit of something like 109g of CO2 per km. Now we have a decent sized family car which can achieve 99g without some new super technology.
Why was the auto industry crying about it last year saying it would be impossible?
Reply
Mark 5:23PM (9/08/2008)
They cry about something being 'impossible' because they WANT it to be 'impossible'. They don't want to be forced into spending money into researching ways into reducing emissions, even though the technology exists. They'd rather keep playing their 'It's impossible' game, instead of forking over the cash to research better ways.
jerryofva 2:15PM (9/09/2008)
Mark goes with conspiracy theory rather then sound analysis. Americans have gone hybrid crazy when the diesel solution is a better way to go. Diesels get better mileage then any hybrid with an equivalent amount of horsepower. My 2005 Jetta TDI is gets the highest realized highway fuel economy on the road. Driven properly, I get 50+ MPG. It's no slouch in the city either although both the Prius and Civic hybrids do better in pure city driving. I consistently get 38-40 mpg per tank with about 40 % city, 30% highway and 30% mixed suburban driving. I know several Honda Civic hybrid owners who average less with same driving profile. (The Civic is the real equivalent to the Jetta, not the Prius.)
The reason that US Automakers don't do diesels except for light trucks is Americans won't buy diesels not because of some conspiracy. American's love technology and the hybrid, although an inferior technology to diesel power, are sexy and "techy." In America diesels are a niche product for those who like the longevity and fuel economy and don't want to drive an econobox like the Prius.
Reply
PapayaSF 3:09PM (9/09/2008)
There are also bad memories of Detroit's diesel cars in the '70s.
Dorf 2:15PM (9/09/2008)
What does "It should be noted that it wouldn't score that well in the States, but it would definitely be a certified hybrid hunter." mean?
Do they measure MPG different then the States?
Reply
montoym 10:17PM (9/09/2008)
Yes, in a couple of ways.
For one, they measure MPG's in Imperial Gallons, not US gallons. 1 Imperial Gallon = 1.2 US Gallons, so there's a 20% difference right off the bat.
Secondly, the European fuel economy tests differ from those here in the US and typically result in higher MPG figures.
Expect this 74mpg hwy figure to translate to somewhere around the mid to high 50's for the US.
ed 2:37PM (9/09/2008)
Hmmmm.
"The reason that US Automakers don't do diesels except for light trucks is Americans won't buy diesels not because of some conspiracy. American's love technology and the hybrid, although an inferior technology to diesel power, are sexy and "techy." In America diesels are a niche product for those who like the longevity and fuel economy and don't want to drive an econobox like the Prius."
Or it could be that fuel taxes makes diesel cost more in the USA.
Reply
subrot0 2:42PM (9/09/2008)
MPG is the major hurdle that is preventing me from buying the 2009 Jetta TDI Sportwagen. The EPA says that it gets 32 mpg in the city plus or minus 2 mpg and the VW dealer says it gets 40 mpg.
Whom do I believe? I want to buy the Jetta but who is telling the truth. I love Diesels. Dad had a Mercedes Diesel which was fabulous. Mom had a VW Passat wagon diesel which was just awesome.
Will the current diesel be capable of biodiesel? Again no straight answer from the dealer.
Reply
montoym 10:51PM (9/09/2008)
Go down to your local VW dealer and ask them for a test drive. Then, reset the trip computer and such so that you can see the fuel efficiency that you get from your own driving. Drive it like normal and take it everywhere you normally would, be sure to include some city and highway driving too.
Then, just compare the figure you got to the other figures and you can get a decent idea of what to expect.
But, judging by previous TDI's, I'd say if you don't get high 30's to low 40's as a combined average, you drive with a very heavy foot.
Even though the new TDI's are more powerful and have more emissions equipment, VW claims they are more efficient than the older ones as well. Even the EPA agrees with that though. Compare the figures for an '09 Jetta TDI to an '06 Jetta TDI and the '09 has higher numbers(adjusted to the '08 testing prcedures) and you already know what kind of mileage the older TDI's can achieve.
I'll even provide you the figures - city/hwy/combined
'06 Jetta TDI 5spd manual - 30/37/33
'09 Jetta TDI 6spd manual - 30/41/34
As an aside, the 60 drivers listed for the YourMPG section for the '06 seem to agree that the figures are low. Even the lowest average of those 60 drivers is higher than the EPA combined figure. The average for those 60 drivers is 42.3MPG, over 5mpg higher than the EPA HWY figure! There is only 1 driver listed for the '09, but even that driver is averaging 49mpg. See more at the fueleconomy.gov site.
As far as the biodiesel aspect, I think the jury is still out on that one. Due to the lower sulfur fuel now required, the new TDI's require much more refined fuel than older diesels needed. So, I think the dealers are staying quiet so that they aren't on the hook when they tell you it's OK to use and you come in with an unhappy engine.
Richardjoe 10:34AM (10/08/2009)
I get 38 mpg combined driveing (city and suburban) with my 2009 TDI Jetta sedan. DSG transmission - love it.
Great car, put on 16K since March of 09 when I bought it new.
jerryofva 3:17PM (9/09/2008)
Ed:
It's not dollars per gallon that count but cents per mile. I may be spending $4.10 versus $3.55 for regular but I am getting much better gas mileage then any equivalent gasser, I pay about 15% more for 30-40% better fuel economy. Plus neither the Prius nor the Civic have the utility and fun factor of the Jetta. The difference according Edmunds is a penny mile. The Jetta's city mileage is better then the highway mileage on any other hybrid.
Reply
Sean 3:50PM (9/09/2008)
Our regulatory structure will prevent this from coming to America, nothing else. No big three conspiracy or Rethuglikkkan/Neocon/Jewish deviousness. It'll just cost a billion dollars extra to get it through EPA and DOT. It's really pretty simple, we need to chop-chop regulation to really 'save the world'. Doesn't look sexy on a bumper sticker or on a sign, but it's the simple truth.
Reply
Brian 5:46PM (9/09/2008)
Diesel prices in the U.S. are also distorted by the low-sulfur requirement. The price of "off-road" diesel is much lower because it doesn't have to meet the low-sulfur requirement. In Europe, fuel prices are much higher due to taxes.
Also, diesel supply is directly related to gasoline supply. Now that the EPA is requiring that gasoline be blended with ethanol, less oil is required to be refined for gasoline. Since oil is so expensive, you can't waste any side products, so it has the effect of tightening the supply of diesel. Jet fuel supply has the same problem. If E85 catches on, the problem is exacerbated.
Biodiesel and bio-jet fuel are possibilities, but not from existing food crops. Better solutions are in the works using algae. Also, if the T. Boone Pickens plan catches on, you might be able to use natural gas in a diesel engine. Diesel engines have used propane injection to boost power for years.
Reply
matt 7:08PM (9/09/2008)
IDIOTS - I had a 1990 golf diesel that got 60 mpg on about 58 hp. It could cruise at 70mph without effort (add in a headwind and a hill and she started to struggle a bit) and accelerated fine. My point is that if VW dialed back the HP (they have much better injection technology now) i bet they could coax 90mpg out of that sucker. I know most drivers now want at least 100 hp, but i would like to see them try it and then, perhaps make the ultra-fuel sipper 90 mpg 60 hp version as an option. i'd buy one. WTF do you need 100hp to putter around in most towns anyways?
Reply
montoym 10:50PM (9/09/2008)
Go down to your local VW dealer and ask them for a test drive. Then, reset the trip computer and such so that you can see the fuel efficiency that you get from your own driving. Drive it like normal and take it everywhere you normally would, be sure to include some city and highway driving too.
Then, just compare the figure you got to the other figures and you can get a decent idea of what to expect.
But, judging by previous TDI's, I'd say if you don't get high 30's to low 40's as a combined average, you drive with a very heavy foot.
Even though the new TDI's are more powerful and have more emissions equipment, VW claims they are more efficient than the older ones as well. Even the EPA agrees with that though. Compare the figures for an '09 Jetta TDI to an '06 Jetta TDI and the '09 has higher numbers(adjusted to the '08 testing prcedures) and you already know what kind of mileage the older TDI's can achieve.
I'll even provide you the figures - city/hwy/combined
'06 Jetta TDI 5spd manual - 30/37/33
'09 Jetta TDI 6spd manual - 30/41/34
As an aside, the 60 drivers listed for the YourMPG section for the '06 seem to agree that the figures are low. Even the lowest average of those 60 drivers is higher than the EPA combined figure. The average for those 60 drivers is 42.3MPG, over 5mpg higher than the EPA HWY figure! There is only 1 driver listed for the '09, but even that driver is averaging 49mpg. See more at the fueleconomy.gov site.
As far as the biodiesel aspect, I think the jury is still out on that one. Due to the lower sulfur fuel now required, the new TDI's require much more refined fuel than older diesels needed. So, I think the dealers are staying quiet so that they aren't on the hook when they tell you it's OK to use and you come in with an unhappy engine.
Reply
montoym 11:00PM (9/09/2008)
Sorry, supposed to be a reply, disregard.